Marine Assumes Post As U.S. Commander In Afghanistan

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., a four-star Marine officer, took over the role of U.S. commander in Afghanistan Sunday as the United States continues to wind down its longest war, the Los Angeles Times reports.

A ceremony inside the coalition’s heavily guarded compound in Kabul marked the end of the 19-month tenure of Gen. John R. Allen, whose command was marred by a rash of deadly “insider” attacks by Afghan forces against their U.S. and NATO trainers and strained relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai…

Dunford will have a key seat at the table as U.S. officials try to hammer out the security agreement, which will hinge on earning assurances from Afghan leaders that they won’t release prisoners currently in U.S. custody and will guarantee U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Afghan courts. The failure to reach an immunity guarantee was a main reason why no U.S. troops remained in Iraq after the war ended there.